Cy-Fair CERT — Who We Are
- We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established in 2007 that focuses on emergency preparedness through training opportunities and community outreach. We hold free CERT training classes which run for 8 weeks several times each year . Our membership consists totally of volunteers.
- Our organization is funded through grants, donations and fund raising events to raise money for supplies, operating costs and special projects which benefit both the team and our community.
- We own and maintain a 20’ cargo container, which contains essential disaster relief supplies and is centrally located in the Copperfield area.
- In 2009, in partnership with the Stone Creek Community, we completed our first Neighborhood S.A.F.E. storage unit (Supplies Available for Emergencies). This distribution site will assist their community with resources for neighborhood clean-up and debris removal as well as with basic medical and rescue supplies.
- In September 2010, our second Neighborhood S.A.F.E. was unveiled in Fairfield community, containing identical supplies.
- In 2011 we were donated a 6×10 trailer, repaired and renovated it for emergency response use. We now have a Mobile Emergency Response Trailer, equipped with IC communications, medical and search/rescue supplies. We display the trailer at various Cy-Fair community events.
- Additional training opportunities offered to our team include: Animal Response in Disaster, Chainsaw Safety, CPR/First Aid, Incident Command System (ICS), Moulage (simulated injury make-up), HAM Radio, SkyWarn, Traffic Control and Medical Reserve Corps.
- Our Moulage Team assists various area groups with first aid and disaster training by applying moulage (injury make-up) on “victims” to help make realistic disaster scenarios.
- We annually support the BP-MS150, Hurricane Workshop, Cy-Fair FireFest, ,Harris County CERT Rodeo, Cy-Fair Women’s Club: Shop til You Drop. Neighbors Night Out and other charity and local events.
- As participants in the annual Harris County CERT Rodeo we conduct recurrent training drills. Topics covered include search and rescue techniques, injury assessments, first aid and triage, evidence recovery, Hazmat size-up and applying Incident Command procedures.
- We have an active team of HAM radio operators known as Cy-Fair CERT Amateur Radio Committee (CFCARC). Members have monthly meetings and monthly area-wide net calls. They also hold regular field day exercises and practice drills.
- Cy-Fair CERT works in partnership with and has team members who are active in Medical Reserve Corps (MRC), ARRL, ARES, Crisis Chaplaincy of Harris County, American Red Cross, Texas EquuSearch and Citizens Police Academy.